Southern League Premier Division

Cinderford Town 3 Chippenham Town 2

PAUL Michael recorded his first win as Cinderford Town manager at the Causeway on Tuesday night – but regarded it as ’one down, 12 to go’ in the club’s fight to stay up.

Three brilliantly worked goals gave the hosts a 3-1 cushion against second-placed Chippenham for almost half an hour with striker and top scorer Gethyn Hill netting either side of his assist to Blaine Waugh.

Chippenham scored with seven minutes left in controversial fashion – the Cinderford backline claimed David Pratt had handled the ball into the net rather than heading it – but the Foresters held on to record only their third win of the campaign.

“It wasn’t the kind of game we targeted as a win,” Michael admitted after the full-time whistle.

“This is a bonus, but it’s one down and 12 to go. 46 points has always been enough to see a side stay up at this level and that’s our aim.”

A wonderfully open, end-to-end game saw Chippenham attack on the counter directly and quickly, but Cinderford’s short and fast passing game unhinged the high-flying visitors throughout.

Hill opened the scoring after 27 minutes when he was fed firmly by Sammie Hicks, who relished in a midfield role in a 5-3-2 system.

With his back to goal, Hill turned his marker before unleashing an audacious chip from the edge of the area into the top-left corner with Chippenham goalkeeper Darren Chitty stranded.

The lead only lasted six minutes however, when Andy Sandell scored firmly from the spot following a clear foul in the home area.

It was the only time Sandell got the better of goalkeeper Cameron Clark, who shone between the sticks making a number of crucial saves.

Hill set Waugh, operating as a right wing-back, free with a superbly weighted through ball after holding up play for the former Brockworth man to nutmeg the out-rushing Chitty for 2-1 five minutes before the break.

Hill made the game seemingly safe after 55 minutes, when a lightning-quick break saw Karnell Chambers, who ran himself into the ground, check his run on the byline before squaring for the imposing forward to finish emphatically.